Essex cafe fire safety standards 2025: How can I ensure my Essex café meets the newest fire safety standards for 2025?
Introduction
Essex cafe fire safety standards 2025: this guide explains what you must do, step by step, to make your Essex café compliant, safe for staff and customers, and ready for inspection. You will learn which legal duties apply, the practical checks and upgrades cafés commonly need in 2025, how to manage kitchen and extraction risks, and where to get competent help. GOV.UK publication: Fire safety risk assessment — offices and shops
Understand the legal duties and the standards that matter
As the responsible person for your café you must reduce fire risk and keep records where required. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places the primary legal duty on the responsible person to carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment and to act on its findings. You must also follow up-to-date statutory guidance and building regulation changes that affect new work. GOV.UK guidance for shops and offices
From 2025 there are notable changes to Approved Document B and related guidance that affect new building work and certain technical specifications. These updates include amendments that come into force in March 2025 and further staged changes planned in later years. It is important to check whether any recent works to your building were covered by applications made before these dates and what transitional arrangements apply. Approved Document B: fire safety updates
Practical action now
Confirm who the responsible person is and ensure they understand the law.
Keep written records of the fire risk assessment where five or more people work or where otherwise required.
If you plan building work, consult building control early to confirm which version of Approved Document B applies. GOV.UK guidance
Carry out a café-specific fire risk assessment and keep it current
A café’s fire risk assessment must examine how customers and staff would escape, where fires could start, and how fire can spread. Focus on kitchen hazards, storage, waste management and arrangements for busy periods. The GOV.UK guidance for shops and offices explains the five steps of a fire risk assessment you should follow and what to record. GOV.UK five-step fire risk assessment
Many café owners prefer to use an experienced consultant to ensure nothing is missed. If you want help, Total Safe fire risk assessment service offers tailored fire risk assessments for hospitality premises across Essex and the South East. Use an assessment to build a clear action plan and timetable for remedial work.
Checklist points to include in the assessment
Means of escape for full and seated occupancy, including pushchairs and mobility aids.
Fire doors and escape signage condition and operation.
Electrical sources and portable appliance use, especially chargers and burr grinders.
Storage of combustible items and external bins near the building.
Night-time procedures for cleaning and locking up.
Manage kitchen and extraction risks: TR19 and cleaning regimes
Kitchen extract systems are a frequent cause of commercial kitchen fires. The industry TR19 Grease specification sets out best practice for managing grease accumulation in canopies, ducts and fans. Use a BESA Vent Hygiene Register contractor for TR19-compliant cleaning and get written proof of works and grease readings for insurers and your fire authority.
Practical kitchen controls
Schedule TR19 deep cleaning and keep the Post Clean Verification Report (PCVR).
Clean canopy filters and visible grease daily; record checks.
Ensure automatic suppression systems (if fitted) are inspected and serviced to the manufacturer’s schedule.
Fit and clearly label isolation points for gas and electrical supplies close to exits.
If your café uses deep-fat fryers or high-volume frying, consider a dedicated kitchen suppression system and fixed extinguishing arrangements. Total Safe kitchen suppression solutions.
Fire detection, alarm systems and the BS 5839-1 update
The right fire detection and alarm system helps ensure safe evacuation and protects staff and customers. The BS 5839-1 code of practice for non‑domestic systems was updated in 2025 to reflect new technology and expectations for detector siting, signalling and monitoring. Check whether your system meets the latest recommended categories and the guidance for connection to alarm receiving centres where appropriate. BS 5839-1: 2025 key changes
What to check now
Does your alarm provide adequate coverage for kitchen, dining and storeroom areas? Heat detection may be acceptable in some cooking areas, but smoke detection is recommended in escape routes and public spaces.
Are systems maintained, logged and serviced by competent engineers? Keep maintenance records to demonstrate diligence.
Ensure emergency lighting is installed and tested to the required standard so customers can exit safely during night-time service.
If you need a professional audit or upgrade, Total Safe fire alarm and maintenance services can provide audits and installations across Essex.
Compartmentation, fire doors and portable firefighting equipment
Good compartmentation and correctly installed, operational fire doors slow smoke and flame spread and protect escape routes. Regular checks of door closers, intumescent strips and seals are vital. Where doors are damaged or wedged open you must repair or replace them promptly. British Standards and guidance emphasise the value of properly maintained passive protection in smaller premises. BS 9999 handbook and guidance
Extinguishers and blankets
Provide appropriate portable extinguishers for the café environment (foam, CO2 and wet chemical for frying risks).
Mount extinguishers in accessible positions, label them and record monthly visual checks plus annual servicing.
Fit a fire blanket near cooking appliances and train staff in its correct use.
Total Safe can perform extinguisher servicing and fire door surveys to keep your equipment compliant and effective. Total Safe services overview
Staff training, emergency planning and record keeping
Training and rehearsed procedures turn safety equipment into effective protection. Train all staff to act quickly during an incident: raise the alarm, call the fire service, use the nearest safe route and help customers evacuate. Appoint and train fire marshals for every shift and rehearse at least twice a year or whenever you change layout or staffing. GOV.UK training guidance
Maintain the following records and make them available on request
Fire risk assessment and action plan.
Records of TR19 cleaning certificates, alarm and extinguisher servicing, and emergency lighting tests.
Staff training records and evacuation drill logs.
A named responsible person and contact details for out-of-hours checks.
Total Safe runs fire marshal and extinguisher training tailored to hospitality teams and can help you create a clear, tested emergency plan. Total Safe training
Insurance, local fire authority and when to get expert help
Insurers increasingly expect TR19 evidence, competent servicing records, and documented risk reduction. If you cannot provide proof of regular duct cleaning or equipment maintenance, your cover may be at risk. Use written reports from recognised contractors to demonstrate compliance. Why use the BESA Vent Hygiene Register
You should also establish contact with your local fire and rescue service in Essex for advice specific to your premises and to understand any local expectations. Where the risk profile is complex — for example, if your café is in a listed building, has sleeping accommodation, or forms part of a multi-occupied property — seek professional help without delay. GOV.UK risk assessment guidance
When to commission a qualified surveyor or consultant
You plan structural changes or building work.
Your premises have unusual escape routes or mixed use.
The fire risk assessment identifies technical issues beyond in-house expertise.
Practical checklist: actions to take this month
Review and update your fire risk assessment; record any immediate actions. GOV.UK five-step guidance
Ensure extraction filters are cleaned and log daily checks; arrange TR19 deep clean if not done recently. BESA Vent Hygiene Register guidance
Check alarm panel, emergency lighting and extinguisher inspection tags; book annual servicing if due. BS 5839-1 update
Run a staff briefing and a short evacuation drill before the next busy weekend. GOV.UK practical steps
Keep copies of all certificates, reports and training records in a single, easy-to-find file for inspection. VHR and insurer expectations
If you would like a professional review and a clear remedial plan, contact Total Safe to arrange a site visit and quote.
Conclusion: prioritise the highest risks and keep evidence
Meeting Essex cafe fire safety standards 2025 is about identifying the hazards that matter most in a busy hospitality setting and proving you have controlled them. Start with a thorough fire risk assessment, keep kitchen extraction and alarm systems current, train staff, and keep clear records of maintenance and training. When in doubt, use competent contractors and keep the results of their work on file for insurers and inspectors. Follow GOV.UK and recognised industry guidance, and seek specialist help for technical issues. GOV.UK guidance
Next steps
Do the one-month checklist and book any overdue TR19 or alarm servicing.
Schedule a full Total Safe assessment if you want a single contractor to coordinate repairs, systems and training. Contact Total Safe
FAQ
Q: Do I need a fire risk assessment for a small café in Essex?
A: Yes. If your premises are used for work or serve the public, the responsible person must carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment and keep records if five or more people work there. GOV.UK guidance
Q: How often should kitchen extract ducting be cleaned to meet 2025 expectations?
A: Cleaning frequency depends on use and grease build-up, but TR19 and insurers typically expect annual deep cleaning for low‑use kitchens and more frequent cleans for busier operations; always keep a PCVR. BESA Vent Hygiene Register
Q: Will I need to replace my fire alarm system because BS 5839-1 changed in 2025?
A: Not necessarily. You should have your system audited against the updated BS 5839-1 guidance and upgrade where the risk assessment, life‑safety needs or system age justify it. Record any decisions and plan upgrades with a competent installer. BS 5839-1 update
Q: What documents should I keep for my insurer and the fire authority?
A: Keep the fire risk assessment and action plan, TR19 cleaning certificates, alarm and extinguisher service records, emergency lighting test logs, staff training records, and any fire door or suppression system reports. VHR and insurer expectations
Q: Who can I contact locally for a café fire safety survey in Essex?
A: Contact Total Safe for an on-site fire risk assessment, system surveys, TR19 coordination and staff training across Essex and the South East. Arrange a Total Safe survey
